This superb thriller features an array of colourful characters and some beautiful cinematography which not only looks great but also complements the rather menacing atmosphere of the piece. The action takes place in an environment in which everyone is corrupt and the threat of violence is ever present.
Harry Collins (Ray Liotta) is a police detective with a gambling addiction whose work brings him into contact with violent criminals and a group of colleagues who are all thoroughly corrupt and untrustworthy. In amongst all this moral bankruptcy, Harry is something of an exception as he, at least, has some (albeit unorthodox) ethical standards which govern his conduct. His inability to control his compulsion to gamble, however, eventually gets him into a tight spot when his losses increase to $32,000 and local gangster Chicago (Tom Nonnam) wants to be repaid promptly.
Harry's desperation grows as he knows he'll be killed if he's unable to pay his debt but then he's presented with two opportunities to resolve his problem. Chicago promises to cancel his debt if he kills a young man called Joey (Giovanni Ribisi) who's in police custody because Chicago fears that he might give the police information about his operations in order to get a lighter sentence. Harry isn't prepared to do what Chicago wants and also refuses an offer from his unscrupulous fellow detective Mike Henshaw (Anthony LaPaglia), who's willing to kill Chicago.
In order to extricate himself from the fix he's in, Harry devises a plan to relieve a nightclub owner called Louie (Giancarlo Esposito) of the considerable amount of cash that he knows he regularly keeps in his office safe. Then, with the assistance of three of his colleagues, he goes ahead with the robbery so that he can pay off Chicago and pursue his relationship with the empathetic barmaid Leila (Anjelica Huston) who he thinks provides him with his best opportunity for a better future.
"Phoenix" has a great soundtrack, some entertaining dialogue and well rounded characters but it's the quality of the acting that's most impressive. Harry Collins is a very troubled and psychologically complex man and Ray Liotta's portrayal of him is extremely powerful. Anthony LaPaglia is tremendous as the completely amoral Henshaw and Anjelica Huston shows the rather resigned manner and cautious nature of someone who carries the emotional scars of the past. The performances of the supporting cast are also strong and make their characters very memorable.
Harry Collins (Ray Liotta) is a police detective with a gambling addiction whose work brings him into contact with violent criminals and a group of colleagues who are all thoroughly corrupt and untrustworthy. In amongst all this moral bankruptcy, Harry is something of an exception as he, at least, has some (albeit unorthodox) ethical standards which govern his conduct. His inability to control his compulsion to gamble, however, eventually gets him into a tight spot when his losses increase to $32,000 and local gangster Chicago (Tom Nonnam) wants to be repaid promptly.
Harry's desperation grows as he knows he'll be killed if he's unable to pay his debt but then he's presented with two opportunities to resolve his problem. Chicago promises to cancel his debt if he kills a young man called Joey (Giovanni Ribisi) who's in police custody because Chicago fears that he might give the police information about his operations in order to get a lighter sentence. Harry isn't prepared to do what Chicago wants and also refuses an offer from his unscrupulous fellow detective Mike Henshaw (Anthony LaPaglia), who's willing to kill Chicago.
In order to extricate himself from the fix he's in, Harry devises a plan to relieve a nightclub owner called Louie (Giancarlo Esposito) of the considerable amount of cash that he knows he regularly keeps in his office safe. Then, with the assistance of three of his colleagues, he goes ahead with the robbery so that he can pay off Chicago and pursue his relationship with the empathetic barmaid Leila (Anjelica Huston) who he thinks provides him with his best opportunity for a better future.
"Phoenix" has a great soundtrack, some entertaining dialogue and well rounded characters but it's the quality of the acting that's most impressive. Harry Collins is a very troubled and psychologically complex man and Ray Liotta's portrayal of him is extremely powerful. Anthony LaPaglia is tremendous as the completely amoral Henshaw and Anjelica Huston shows the rather resigned manner and cautious nature of someone who carries the emotional scars of the past. The performances of the supporting cast are also strong and make their characters very memorable.